How to Change Tab Color in Excel

Excel is one of the most widely used spreadsheet applications that offers a multitude of features to its users. It allows you to easily organize your data, create tables, and even perform calculations. Excel has a tab-based interface that enables you to navigate across different worksheets with ease. By default, all the tabs have the same color which might not be visually appealing for some people. Fortunately, Excel allows you to customize the tabs by changing their color. In this blog post, we will guide you on how to change tab color in Excel.

Selecting the worksheet to change tab color

Before we explore how you can change the tab color, it is important to first select the worksheet whose color you want to change. To do this, click on the specific worksheet tab at the bottom of your Excel window.

Changing the tab color

Now that you’ve selected the worksheet, changing the tab color will take only a few simple steps:

Step 1: Right-click on the worksheet tab

Right-click on the worksheet tab whose color you want to change, and a drop-down menu will appear.

Step 2: Select “Tab Color” option

From the drop-down menu, select “Tab Color” and another drop-down menu will appear. You may choose from the standard color options or select “More Colors” for a wider range of colors.

Step 3: Pick your color

Select your desired color from the available color options. You can change the color multiple times to see which one suits your preferences.

Step 4: Preview your new tab color

Once you have chosen your preferred color, the worksheet tab will be automatically updated with your chosen color. You can now preview your new tab color by navigating to it at the bottom of the Excel window.

Final thoughts

It is important to note that the process of changing tab color is not permanent and can be reversed by repeating the above steps and selecting an alternate color. You can experiment with different colors to customize your worksheet tabs and make it more visually appealing. So go ahead and try it out for yourself – it’s an easy and fun way to personalize your Excel experience!

Shortcut Keys to Change Tab Color

If you are someone who prefers using keyboard shortcuts, you’ll be glad to know that Excel provides a keyboard shortcut for changing tab color. Simply select the worksheet tab whose color you want to change and press “Alt” + “H1” + “N” + “TP”. This shortcut will launch the Tab Color menu, and you can navigate around it using the arrow keys.

Why change the tab color?

Customizing the tab colors might seem like a small detail, but it can be an excellent way to keep your data organized. Giving different tabs different colors can help you identify them quickly if you have a lot of worksheets open. You can choose to make the colors of the sheets related to the subject you are tracking. For instance, if you’re tracking sales data, you could assign a blue color to all worksheets that have some sales data – It’s all about personal preference.

Changing sheet tab color in bulk

If you have several worksheets open and would like to change the tab color for several of them at once, Excel allows you to do so. Simply press and hold the “Ctrl” key and click on the tabs whose color you want to change, then follow the steps mentioned above.

Changing worksheet name to match new color

After you have customized your worksheet tabs to your liking, it is best practice to match the worksheet’s name to the color you choose to keep your theme consistent. To do this, right-click on the worksheet tab and select “Rename.” Type in a descriptive name that corresponds to the color and press enter.

Final Thoughts

Changing worksheet tab colors in Excel is an easy and fun way to personalize your experience and keep your work organized. With just a few clicks (or keystrokes), you can choose custom colors to match the topic of each worksheet, and even change them all at once. Give it a try, and see how it can make a difference in your work productivity and workflow.

FAQs

Below are some frequently asked questions about changing tab colors in Excel:

Can I change tab color in Excel for Mac?

Yes, the process of changing the tab color in Excel for Mac is the same as on a Windows PC. Either use the shortcut keys or right-click on the worksheet tab, select “Tab Color,” and then pick a new color option.

Can I change the tab color to a custom color?

Yes, Excel allows you to choose a custom color when changing tab colors. When you reach the “Tab Color” menu, you can either select a Standard Color or choose “More Colors” to obtain a larger selection of colors.

Can multiple sheet tabs be changed simultaneously?

Yes, you can change the sheet tabs’ colors in bulk. To do this, hold down the “Ctrl” key and click on each tab that you want to change. Once selected, right-click on any of the chosen sheets, and select “Tab Color” to open the menu for color selection.

Will my tab color change if I move a worksheet to another workbook?

Yes, your chosen tab color will stay the same, regardless of whether you move the worksheet to another workbook or make a copy of it. Even if you save the file under a new name, the tab color will remain the same as chosen.

Can I change the color of existing tabs in an already open workbook?

Yes, when you change tabs’ colors in a workbook, the new colors will replace the default color for the existing sheets in that particular workbook.